Ivanovic wastes leads in both sets to push Sharapova into Rome quarterfinals

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Wilson Blade 9

Ana Ivanovic was ahead in both sets of her third-round encounter with Maria Sharapova at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, but she displayed her brilliant ability to let a match slip away and you know how well Sharapova can smell prey.

Sharapova made a terrible start to the match, making a total of four double faults in her first two service games to assist Ivanovic in taking a 3-0 lead which comprised of two breaks. Ivanovic had a game point in the following game, but Sharapova started winning. Still, Ivanovic earned a set point at 5-3 and five set points at 5-4, aaaand Sharapova saved them all to level at 5-5! In the tiebreak it was again Ivanovic who first established a lead, but again Sharapova clawed back from 4-4 in the tiebreak to win the set with a shot right on the line.

Even though Ivanovic started the second set by dropping serve, she again built a lead, 3-1. However, the history repeated, the lead was not enough, as Sharapova took charge and won all the remaining games. Final score: 7-6(4) 6-3.

In the quarterfinals, the second-seeded Sharapova will face wildcard Venus Williams, who overcame Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-3. Other quarterfinal pairs are: Dominika Cibulkova vs. Li Na, Serena Williams vs. Flavia Pennetta, and Angelique Kerber vs. Petra Kvitova. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

5 COMMENTS

  1. I watched and after she lost the second set in tiebreak it was clear that she won’t dig herself out of the hole. Wasteful performance by Ana 🙁

  2. Wow,match was pretty one-sided.One stupid missed drive volley and Ana completely fell apart :O Credit to Maria,she’s proven why is she no 2

  3. An apt title! Ana had the match in her hand only to let it slip out of her very hands. Sad! Ana needs a run like she had in Berlin 2007. That boosted her confidence immensely. And she went on a roll till the RG 2008.

  4. Sharapova started the match in horrendous form, but just shows what a true competitor she is that she managed to turn it around.

    Disappointing loss for Ivanovic but I still think she can do well at Roland Garros. I would compare her position to Li Na at the moment in 2012… both pretty consistent at getting through the early stages, but struggling to get the win against the top players.

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